Hit List (11-25)
(Third installment: Nos. 11 - 25)
11. Jim Davis, Davis Construction. The kindler, gentler contractor is hitting stride. His father may have founded the company 40 years ago, but Jim is making it a giant. Dad would be proud.
12. Douglas Jemal, Douglas Development. Even under darkening legal cloud and in shocking coat and tie, still radiates as wheeler dealer, even now in Richmond. And what a show he might have put on with Bob Carr. Anybody else out there to polish his star? Of course, things could change. The jury is literally out on this one.
13. Brian Berry & Jim Evans, Tishman Speyer. New kids on the block drove purchase of Carr/Blackstone portfolio. Okay, Jim isn’t exactly new, and neither is Phil Thomas, who they're lucky enough to get with the properties. But Brian really is a kid.
14. Herb Miller, Western Development. King of Controversy (and PR) has impact, from condos to parking lots, whether you like him or not. He didn’t stop with Potomac Mills, Washington Harbour, or Gallery Place. Even with setbacks, he's been creating more excitement in SW than the Nats. Now, if he can just sell his $28mm pied-a-terre.
15. Chip Akridge & Matt Klein, Akridge. The boy wonder who created a Washington institution is now 60, but no has-been. Still jogs downtown every Thursday morning to check his dozen-plus buildings—and just created investor war chest to buy new ones on the spot. And Matt proves there’s a new generation coming up.
16. Doug Fleit & Brian Katz, America’s Capital Partners. Fitting that ACP secretly stands for "All Cushman People." Took their broker’s eye for buildings that could be leased better…to buy for own account. And they’re buying like mad.
17. Frank Saul II & III, Chevy Chase Bank. They talk softly, but from retail to office, from mortgages and REITs to buying the Hay Adams at $700K a room, they carry a very big ...checkbook.
18. Ralph Dweck, Investor. As important as he is obscure, the master of 1031 exchanges helps keep the market liquid. He’s even big now in Florida.
19. Tom Doughty, Mike Ellis & Trip Howell, Jones Lang LaSalle. Mike has leased up Towers Crescent, and new Spaulding personnel are on a tear downtown: Tom (with Phil Leibow) does law firms from Dow Lohnes to DLA; and Trip still manages to get highest rents around for trophies like Evening Star.
20. Steve Conley & John Duffy, Holliday Fenoglio. Second only to the Collinses in working their capital market magic. But is Nick Pappas nipping at their heels?
21. Lois Zambo & Tom Fulcher, Studley. Though Lois came to fame 20 years ago engineering the Gannett deal (from secretarial beginnings no less), they don’t rest on laurels (see: Newseum, WilmerHale). And what a bench: from CFO type Art Greenberg to suburban player coach Paul Schweitzer to Harley-riding Julie Schuelke. They may only do tenant rep, but that’s like saying Gates only does software.
22. Art Santry & Joe Stettinius, Trammell Crow. Joe might have been away a few months at Equity, but the fires didn’t cool on Trammell's $2 billion in mid-Atlantic development; sometimes it seems like every building has their sign out front. Not to mention blow out deals like Jones Day and DOJ (thanks, Scott Frankel). Doing so well, maybe they’ll even give their brokers private offices someday.
23. Jerry Halpin, West*Group. Sure he developed sites for Cap One, Freddie Mac, Gannett, and Northrop, but the 83-year old legend still drives up GW Parkway every day to Tysons—the 12th largest office market in the country, which he built and is now rebuilding. He’s in the middle of the density changes that are driving up both skyline…and prices.
24. Rob Faktorow, Cathy Delcoco & John Germano, CBRE. Rob's been a triple threat on the landlord, tenant, and sales sides, and quadrupleif you include his hockey seats practically on the team bench. Cathy runs with corporate users like Northrop and Time Warner; and downtown they have Patt Marr and Ernie J. repping tenants, Bruce Pascal doing product, and chief honcho John Germano pounding the beat on drums. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have an 800 lb. institution behind them. All hail corporate gray!
25. Audrey Cramer & Mark Minich, Cushman & Wakefield. The mega-star of years past hasn’t reeled in her big one this year. But then, the year is not over—and the Corporate Advisory Board is a gift that keeps giving, even overseas. The brilliant queen of leasing takes no prisoners. And Mark, who's wrapped Mills Corp., Crowell, and Burson Marsteller, picks up any slack. Keep watching: Underhill is cranking up his machine, and McVay is dusting off his broker's license.
